Safety-step for cars



I (NoMo deL) T. H. DOYLE. SAFETY STEP FOR CARS; No. 258,901. Patented Tum 36,1882

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

THOMAS H. DOYLE, 0F NORWICH, NEW YORK.

SAFETY-STEP Foe CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,901, dated June 6, 1882. Application filed A pril 11, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAs H. DOYLE, of Norwich, in the county of Ghenango and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Attachments to Railway-Oars; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a bottom plan view of the end of a railway-car equipped with myimproved safety attachment. Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 00 m,- and Fig. 3 isa sectional view on the line y y, Fig. 1.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by'like letters of reference.

This invention relates to an improved safety attachment to railway-cars,-which consists'essentially in mechanism for automatically turning the steps out of position when the car is in motion, thus preventing any attempt at leavin g or boarding the car after starting and the danger resulting therefrom, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A represents the frame of the car-truck, and B is' the platform.

0 G are brackets depending from the ends of the platform, two at each-end, so as to form supports for the steps D, said irons or brackets being formed with angles E, as shown, for the purpose stated. The steps D are recessed at their rear corners, as shown at F, so as to fit between the brackets O, and the latter are provided at the vertex of the angles E with eyes G, to receive bolts H, by which the steps D are pivoted to the said brackets. 1

To the lowermost pivoted step, D, is secured an additional step, I, by means of brackets J, which, when turned down, comes sufficiently near the ground to be easily stepped upon. The rear sides of the pivoted steps D are connected by a rod, K, having an eye, L.

M is a disk firmly secured upon one of the car-axles N, and provided with guide-rods O, projecting from one of its faces, parallel to the axle.

P is another disk, sliding loosely upon the axle N and guide-rods O, and having arms Q, carrying weights or balls R, pivoted or hingedto diametrically-opposite sides, said arms being connected by pivoted rods S with the sides of disk M, thus forming an ordinary centrifu gal governor. The sliding disk P has an annular groove, T, in which is fitted a ring or band, U, which is pivoted between the arms of a forked lever, Y, pivoted to a hanger, W, depending from the under side of the car-frame.

X is a rod or shaftjournaled longitudinally under the car-frame and provided with acrank, Y, connected by a pivoted rod, Z, with the upper end of the lever. The ends of the shaft X are provided with cranks A, fitted in the eyes L of the rods K, connecting the pivoted steps D at each end of thecar. The connecting-rods K of the steps D at opposite ends of the platform are connected by a rod or chain, B, enablin g them to be simultaneously operated either by theshaftX or by a lever, G, pivoted to one end of the platform and having one end connected to the rod K. The other end of lever C may be retained in any position to which it 7 may be adjusted by a segmental ratchet-bar, D.

. From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my inventionv will be readily understood. When the car is in'rnotionthegovernor, mounted upon the axle, operates the shaft X, which, through the rod K, turns the steps to the position shown in dotted lines. When the car stops the steps drop down automatically. By the lever O the train-men, however, may control the'steps, so as to keep them turned up even when the car is stationary.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United-States l. The combination, with a railway-car, of the brackets G,pivoted steps D,connecting-rod K, v

a governor'mounted upon the car-axle, and mechanism for operating the said pivoted steps automatically by means of said governor, as set forth.

2. The combination of the car-axle, the governorhaving sliding annularly-grooved disk 1?, the band U, forked lever V, shaft X, having cranks Y A, connecting-rod Z, brackets Q, pivoted steps D, and the connecting-rod K, having eye L, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. DOYLE.

Witnesses:

WINCHESTER STEBBINS, BENJAMIN F. LITTLE. 

